Winsted man dies by suicide in Cook County

COOK COUNTY, MN – A Cook County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to pull a vehicle over for a speed violation east of Schroeder near the Temperance River area in northeastern Minnesota at approximately 9:15 a.m. Sunday, June 10, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

The vehicle pulled onto the shoulder and slowed, but continued forward at a very low rate of speed.

At approximately 9:17 a.m., as the vehicle was coming to a stop, the driver displayed a handgun and turned the weapon on himself.

As the deputy was coming to a stop, he witnessed the driver’s side window of the Jeep shatter, and the driver slump over.

The deputy found the driver, identified as a 43-year-old male from Winsted, deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

“Today was a tragedy for all involved,” Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen said.

Inside the vehicle, a quickly-written, brief note with contact information for family members and an apology to the police was found, according to the sheriff’s office. The family of the deceased has been notified.

It is unknown why the deceased man was in Cook County, but the sheriff’s office believes he had been camping out of his vehicle for the past several days in the area.

An autopsy will be conducted by the Anoka County medical examiner.

The sheriff’s office received assistance at the scene from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the US Border Patrol.

The name of the deceased has not been released.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free number, 1-800-273-TALK(8255) connects the caller to a certified crisis center near where the call is placed. CLICK HERE to go to the organization’s website.